Paper-file.



No. 7l0,586. Patented Oct. 7. |902.

Z. C. KETCHUM.

PAPER FILE.

(Application filed Dec. 27, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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"UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ZEBULUN OOLVIN KETOHUM, OF OTTAWA, CANADA.

PAPER-FILE.

SPCIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 710,585, dated October'7, 1902.

Application tiled December 27, 1901. Serial No. 87,422. (No model.)

To f//ZZ whom, it may concern.-

e it known that I, ZEBULUN CoLviN KETCHUM, merchant, a subject of theKing of Great Britain, residing at Ottawa, in the county of Carleton, inthe Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented a new and usefulPaper-File, of which the following is a speci fication.

My invention relates to improvements in paper-iiles; and the object ofmy invention is to devise a paper-file for tiling away letters,receipts, statements, or other papers which shall be cheap inconstruction and may be adjusted in height to firmly hold any number ot`papers which may be held thereon; and it consists, essentially, ot' abase having upwardly-extendiug posts or pins secured thereto, a movablestrip to slide up and down on said posts, an eccentric-clamp forsecuring said movable strip at any desired height on said posts, andsuitable upper and lower covers flexibly attached to said base and saidmovable strip, the various parts being constructed and arranged indetail, as hereinafter more particularly described.

Figure l is a perspective view of my tile, showing the base and themovable strip covered with any suitable material, such as leather, andwith the top and bottom covers attached thereto, and also showing thebutterfly-key. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the clamping device, showing theposition of its parts when gripping the posts. Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe device when loosened. Fig. 4 is a section through Fig. 2 on the linex so. Fig. 5 is a sectional view through Fig. 3 on the line y y. Fig. 6is a portion of an alternative form ot post. Fig. 'Tis aview of acompleted post ot' the alternative form. Fig. S is a view of the diskand eccentric.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding partsin each figure.

A is the base.

B B are posts or pins which are fastened by riveting or other suitablemeans to the base A. These posts are preferably circular incross-section and may be made in one piece, or, if preferable, may bemade in sections, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, to permit ot their beinglengthened when a large number of papers are held on the tile. In thiscase the sections are made to screw into each other and the top sectionb is rounded ol'I" and the bottom section b is riveted into the base.

O is the adjustable strip. 1 Holes c c are bored in the strip C toreceive the posts or pins B B. The method of clamping this strip in anydesired height on the posts B and B is as follows: A rod D is provided,having an elongated hole or slot d, through which the pin B passes, andhaving at its opposite end an enlarged orton d' in which is a circularhole d2. E is a circular disk having a central hole e to tit looselyover the pin An eccentric c' is formed on the under side of this disk,and this eccentric is designed to tit into the hole d2 when the disk isin position on the post B. Holes c2 e2 are formed in the upper side ofthe disk E, and a butterfly-key F, having a central holefto fit over thepost B, is provided with down wardly-extending projections f' f',designed to engage the holes e2 e2. Intermediate of the length ot' therod D a hole d3 is formed. A pivot d4, having an enlarged head (Z5, isprovided, and this pivot passes through the hole d3 and secures the rodD loosely to the adjustable strip O, allowing said rod a small amount ofplay all around in a horizontal sense. It will now be seen that byturning the disk E into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4 theeccentric e' will force the rod D to press hard against the post B. Theeccentric itself and l the disk E will press rmly against the post B,and thus the rod D will be clamped rmly between the posts B and B, andthe adjustable strip c will consequently be held securely from slippingeither up or down on the posts B B'.

XVhen it is desired to loosen the strip C, the disk E and the eccentrice are turned into the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, preferably bymeans of the butterfly-key F, and in this position the pressure of therod D against the post B is released, and also the pressure ot theeccentric e' and the disk E against the posts B B is released, so thatthe adjustable strip O is free to move up or down on the posts B B.

G is a cover of any suitable material, but preferably of wood, which isprovided with a depression g on its under side to receive the rod D andis also provided with a hole g' for the post B and the hole g2 toreceive the disk E. This cover is secured tothe movable strip C by meansof suitable screws or bolts II.

In using my device in practice it will preferably be covered withsuitable material, such as leather, cloth, or the like. Upper and lowercovers jj' are secured to the adjustable strip and the base,respectivcly,'by flexible means to permit of their being readily openedand closed.

It Will now be seen that I have invented a le for papers, receipts,letters, and the like which possesses many apparant advantages. First,it is simple and cheap in construction; second, it may be adjusted andrmly held in position to suit any number of papers contained therein,and consequently will not take up any unnecessary space; third, themeans of clamping the adjustable strip in position is extremely simple,effective, and easily operated.

I am aware that tiles have been used in which an adjustable cover slideson posts as in the present device; but the clamping devices used forsecuring the cover in the desired position have never been satisfactory,as they are difcult to operate and are continually breaking or gettingout of order. In

my device it will be seen that these ditculties are completelydone awayWith in a cheap, simple, and practical manner.

What I claim as my invention isl. In a device of the class described,the combination with the base and the posts secured thereto, of anadjustable strip slidably held on said posts, a clamping-rod locatedabove said adjustable strip and having a hole or slot at one end toengage one of said posts, and having a circular hole at its oppositeend, an eccentric extending into said circular hole and having a holetherethrough, through which the other one of said posts extends as andfor the purpose specified.

2. In a device of the class described the combination with the base andthe posts secured thereto of an adjustable strip having holes to tit onsaid posts, a clamping-rod loosely pivoted to said adjustable strip andhavinga hole or slot at one end and a circular hole in an enlargedportion at its opposite end, and a circular disk having a central holeto lit on one of said posts and having an eccentric to it in saidcircular hole in said clamping-rod as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a clamping device for a tile ofthe class described the combinationof a clamping-rod loosely pivoted at a point intermediate its length andhaving a hole or slot at one end and a circular hole at its opposite endand a circular disk having a central hole and an eccentric formed on itsunderside and designed to tit in said circular hole in said clamping-rodas and for the purpose specified.

Signed at the city of Ottawa this 23d day of December, 1901.

ZEBULUN COLVIN KETCHUM.

Vitnesses:

J. LOW MCDOUGALL, Jr., M. MCKAIN

